First Leg Results
Saturday 7th January
West Nile 2-0 Lango – Green light stadium
West Nile defeated Lango 2-0 to walk home with a better first leg advantage in the FUFA Drum Finals match played at Green light stadium in Arua.
Arua Hill FC defender Rashid Toha put West Nile in a deserved 1-0 lead as he scored a beautiful free kick in the 35th minute before Maroons sharp Shooter Fred Amaku doubled their lead in the second stanza.
The white Lions of West Nile dominated the game from the start as striker Muhammad Shaban pairing up with Fred Amaku caused alot of trouble to the Lango defence.
In the 24th minute, Geriga Atendele’s powerful shot hit the woodwork before it was parried away by the Lango goalkeeper Ondongkara for a corner.
It was Toha’s time to rumble as he stood up and converted a beautiful free kick in the 35th minute which put West Nile in a deserved lead.
Lango reacted with quick as they tried to look for an equaliser and their first chance on goal came within a minute after conceding as Allan Okello sent in a powerful free kick which was saved by goalkeeper Rodgers Omedwa in the 36th minute.
The white Lions played better to defend their lead as the game went into the halftime break with a 1-0 lead ahead of Lango.
In the second stanza, West Nile resumed with high possession of the ball which saw them create more scoring chances as Gaddafi Wahab had his free kick hit the cross bar as well as Cromwell Rwothomio missing a couple of chances.
With just two minutes to an hour mark in the game, Fred Amaku long range effort beat goalkeeper Emmanuel Ondongkara as the White Lions doubled their lead.
Lango Province pushed had for atleast a goal but they failed to beat a well organized defence from West Nile as midfielder Okocha Rashid played a vital role in defending the 2-0 lead which saw him being crowned the man of the match award.
The Rhinos from Lango will fancy their chances of registering a come back a s they host the second leg of the FIFA Drum Finals on 15th January 2023.
How both sides lined up
West Nile XI
Rodgers Omedwa (GK), Atendele Geriga, Rashid Toha, Bright Vuni, William Gama, Rashid Yakini, Fred Amaku, Muhammad Shaban, Gaddafi Wahab, Cromwell Rwothomio, Rashid Okocha
Lango XI
Emmanuel Ondongkara (GK), Jacob Okao, John Paul Acire, Isaac Okello, Ivan Okello, Franco Onen, Norman Odipio, Allan Okello, Dennis Omedi, Bronson Nsubuga, Innocent Maduka
